- Abortion legal status
- Legal
- Emergency contraception
- Without a prescription
- Emergency number
- 112
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: chaniavisit.com, travelsafe-abroad.com
Good to know
Good to Know
- The national SOS 15900 helpline operates 24/7 in Greece and can direct you to Chania's local shelter and counselling services if you experience sexual or domestic violence.
- Emergency contraception (morning-after pill) is legally available over-the-counter at any Chania pharmacy without a prescription and without an age requirement — but pharmacies keep normal business hours and many close on weekends, so check for the 'on-duty' pharmacy if you need it urgently outside those hours.
- Regular birth control pills are also sold without a prescription at Greek pharmacies, but IUD and implant insertion require booking an appointment with a gynecologist, not a pharmacy purchase.
- If you need police help immediately, dial 100; for a hate-crime-related report there's a dedicated 24/7 police line (11414).
- Abortion is legal on request up to 12 weeks in Greece, with wider allowances for rape/incest (19 weeks), fetal abnormality (24 weeks), and no limit at all when the pregnant person's life or health is at serious risk.
- Nomads without Greek public health coverage (AMKA/EOPYY) will generally need to use a private clinic or OB/GYN in Chania and pay out of pocket, rather than the public hospital route, which is set up for insured residents.
- The morning-after pill (Norlevo) is sold over the counter at Greek pharmacies with no prescription or age check needed, which is useful to know as a backup option.
- Minors under 18 need a parent or guardian's written consent for an abortion in Greece — relevant if traveling with a teenage dependent.
- Several private OB/GYNs in Chania speak English and are used to treating expats and tourists; calling ahead to confirm language and same-day availability is wise, since public system appointments can be slower.
Street, Night and Taxi Safety
Street Harassment
Sources describe harassment in Chania as relatively uncommon compared with many destinations, with the Old Town and harbor busy into the evening. One local-safety summary notes that catcalling can occur but is usually limited to shouted comments from men rather than anything more threatening, and that this is not considered a major problem in the city. Even so, several sources caution that women should stay alert, since isolated incidents of harassment have been reported and a friendly manner shouldn't be assumed to guarantee good intentions.
Walking Alone at Night
The Old Town and harbor area stay lively and are generally considered comfortable to walk after dark, and local guides describe no particular threat walking back from the harbour at night. However, side streets and alleys away from the main tourist core can become very quiet late at night, and sources advise sticking to livelier, well-lit streets rather than quiet side alleys if walking alone. Isolated beaches after dark are also flagged as a spot to avoid alone.
Taxis and Ride-hailing
For Greece generally, official Canadian government travel advice states that taxis are generally safe, while also advising travellers not to accept rides from strangers or casual acquaintances. For Chania and Crete specifically, other sources recommend sticking to licensed taxis, agreeing on or confirming the fare before the ride (or ensuring the meter is on), and using apps like FREENOW rather than hailing an unmarked vehicle, particularly late at night.
Practical Precautions
Common recommendations for women in Chania and Crete include avoiding excessive drinking and keeping an eye on your drink, using licensed taxis at night rather than hailing on the street, and being cautious on quiet streets or isolated beaches after dark. Crowded spots such as the Old Venetian Harbor, bus station, and markets are flagged more for pickpocketing than personal safety, so keeping bags secure in these areas is also advised.
Broader Context: Assault Risk
Canadian government advice for Greece as a whole notes that foreign women have been sexually assaulted, most often on the islands, which is a country-level rather than Chania-specific finding. This is presented alongside the general consensus that violent crime is rare in Chania itself, so the advice functions as a reminder to keep up normal precautions rather than a sign of frequent local incidents.
Legal Framework
- Minors
- For individuals under 18 years of age, written permission from a parent or legal guardian is required to obtain an abortion.
- Country
- Greece
- Methods
- Abortion pills (mifepristone and misoprostol, taken up to about ten weeks of pregnancy) and surgical (vacuum aspiration) methods are both used; by law abortions must be performed by an obstetrician-gynecologist with an anesthesiologist present.
- Summary
- Abortion in Greece has been fully legalized since 1986, when Law 1609/1986 was passed effective from 3 July 1986.
- Governing Law
- Law 1609/1986 (building on partial legalization under Law 821/1978)
- Confidentiality
- Patient confidentiality and privacy are strictly maintained throughout the process, with medical records not disclosed to unauthorized persons.
- Where Performed
- Legal abortion services in Greece are primarily available in public hospitals and licensed private clinics.
- Process Requirements
- Prior to the procedure, a physical and mental health assessment is mandated, and counseling is provided to inform the pregnant individual about their options and any potential implications.
- Emergency Contraception
- The morning-after pill (Norlevo) is available from pharmacies in Greece without a prescription, and proof of age is not required.
- Public System Note
- If a woman seeks a pregnancy termination within the public sector, she may be covered by her health insurance under the Greek National Health System, rendering the procedure free of charge, though bureaucratic procedures and high demand tend to cause delays.
Abortion Time Limits
- On Request
- Following the passage of the 1986 law, abortions can be performed on-demand in hospitals for people whose pregnancies have not exceeded 12 weeks.
- Rape Or Incest
- In the case of rape or incest, an abortion can occur as late as 19 weeks.
- Fetal Abnormality
- In the case of fetal abnormalities, abortion is permitted as late as 24 weeks.
- Risk To Life Or Health
- In case of inevitable risk to the life of the pregnant person or a risk of serious and continuous damage to their physical or mental health, termination of pregnancy is legal any time before birth.
OB-GYN Options In Chania
Private Hospital Tsepeti – Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics
- Phone
- +30 28210 28828
- Type
- Private hospital department
- Address
- Papanastasiou Str. 9, 73133 Chania (city center)
- Notes
- A highly experienced medical team handles diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic gynecological conditions, with on-site ultrasound, lab testing, and modern operating rooms offering minimally invasive (keyhole) surgery. The hospital has English- and German-speaking doctors and an International Patient Department for foreign patients.
Dr. Aggeliki Zolindaki – Obstetrician-Gynecologist
- Type
- Private practice
- Notes
- Practising obstetrics and gynecology in Chania since 1999, offering full gynecological and breast screening, pregnancy monitoring, fertility testing, and aesthetic gynecology. She trained at the University Hospital of Heraklion and holds a Ministry of Health license for gynecological/obstetric ultrasound. Her practice is contracted with EOPYY (the national health service) and several private insurers.
Dr. Georgios Stathoudakis – Obstetrician-Gynecologist
- Type
- Private practice
- Notes
- Maintains private practices in Chania and Rethymno, holds a medical degree from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, and has specialized in fertility as well as laparoscopic and hysteroscopic surgery. He is certified in diagnostic and interventional colposcopy and licensed for obstetric/gynecological ultrasound.
Dr. Charalampos Bpatakis – Obstetrician-Gynecologist
- Type
- Private practice / Fetal Medicine specialist
- Notes
- Runs a private practice in Chania and heads the Fetal Medicine Department at Eleftho O.E. in Chania. He received further training in prenatal screening and fetal medicine in Rome and Paris, and holds an educational license from the General Hospital of Chania.
Assault Resources
- Child Related Hotline Note
- The National Children's Telephone Line SOS 1056 (operated by 'The Smile of the Child') is available for child victims of violence and abuse, in case a minor is involved.
Local Shelter
- Name
- Shelter for Abused Women and their Children, Chania
- Address
- 29 Kydonias Str., Chania, Crete, 73134
- Access Route
- Referrals to this shelter are typically made via the national counselling-center network reached through the SOS 15900 helpline.
- Description
- The shelter provides accommodation and psychosocial support to women experiencing domestic abuse of any kind and their children.
Counselling Network
- Shelter Process
- In the event of a violence incident, a victim (or a third party) can first contact the SOS Helpline 15900 by phone or email; counselors provide psychological support and refer the victim to the nearest Counseling Center and, if necessary, to a shelter, with a medical check-up conducted prior to shelter admission.
- Description
- Chania is covered by Greece's national Network of Counselling Centres, which brings together dozens of centres nationwide dealing with victims of all forms of gender-based violence including domestic violence, sexual harassment, rape, and human trafficking, offering social, psychological, legal, and employment support.
National SOS Helpline
- Phone
- 15900
- Name
- SOS 15900 - National Helpline for Violence Against Women
- sos15900@isotita.gr
- Details
- The SOS line 15900 is about female victims of violence, nationwide, with 24-hour operation 365 days a year. The line is staffed by psychologists and social scientists ready to provide immediate assistance in emergency incidents of violence.
- Availability
- 24/7, 365 days a year
- Cost Note
- Calls are free from Vodafone and Wind; charged at one urban unit if calling from Cosmote.
Other Emergency Numbers
- Police Emergency
- 100
- Ambulance Emergency
- 166
- Police Hate Crime Reporting Line
- 11414 (24/7, run by the Greek Police)
Contraception And Emergency Contraception
- Regulatory Status
- Fully legal and regulated
- Where To Find Pharmacy
- Local pharmacy locator/on-duty pharmacy information for Greece can be checked via the national pharmacy-finder phone service (11850) or municipal on-duty pharmacy listings, useful for finding an open pharmacy in Chania outside standard hours.
IUD
- Availability
- Both copper (non-hormonal) and hormonal (LNG) IUDs are used in Greece, including as a form of emergency contraception; insertion is performed by a gynecologist or trained clinician, not sold over-the-counter as a product.
- Note
- Requires an appointment with a gynecologist for fitting; Chania has private gynecology clinics near the city center, though specific pricing was not verified for this call.
Implant
- Availability
- Progestin implants are available in Greece and are inserted subcutaneously by a gynecologist, providing longer-term contraception.
- Note
- Requires a clinical appointment; not an over-the-counter item.
General Access
- Prescription Required
- No
- Description
- In Greece, birth control is available at pharmacies, clinics or health centers without a prescription, including the pill, and pharmacies are marked with a green cross sign.
- Note On Usage
- Modern contraceptive methods like birth control pills and IUDs have historically lower usage rates in Greece than in some other Southern European countries, so nomads should not assume every local pharmacist stocks a wide brand range — calling ahead is wise.
Birth Control Pill
- Availability
- Available over-the-counter at pharmacies without a prescription.
- Typical Cost Estimate
- €8.00
- Cost Note
- Cost varies by brand/formulation; Greek pharmacy prices are government-regulated so tend to be fairly standardized nationwide, but exact per-pack pricing for Chania specifically was not independently confirmed.
Emergency Contraception
- Availability
- Both levonorgestrel (LNG) emergency contraception and ulipristal acetate (UPA, e.g. ellaOne) are accessible directly from pharmacies without a prescription in Greece.
- Legal Status
- Fully legal and regulated
- Typical Cost
- €17
- Age Restriction
- No age limit is required to obtain emergency contraception in Greece, and proof of age is not required.
- Brands Available
- Common brands available in Greece include Norlevo, Postinor, and ellaOne, taken within 120 hours of unprotected sex depending on the type.
- Practical Caveat
- Greek pharmacies are not typically open 24 hours and many close on weekends, so if you need emergency contraception outside business hours in Chania, you may need to find the on-duty ('efimereyon') pharmacy for that day or go to a hospital emergency department.
- Copper IUD Option
- A copper IUD can also be fitted as emergency contraception up to about five days after unprotected sex, fitted by a doctor, and is over 99% effective, but this requires a same-day clinical appointment rather than a pharmacy purchase.
- Cost Range Note
- Pharmacy cost for emergency contraceptive pills in Greece ranges roughly from 9 to 25 euros for the pill(s).
Regulatory Status
Fully legal and regulated
Access Route Notes
In Chania, terminations are handled through the gynecology/obstetrics department of the local private hospital or through a private OB/GYN's own clinic (often with same-day discharge for early procedures); the public General Hospital of Chania (Agios Georgios) also provides services under the national health system, though nomads without Greek public insurance (EOPYY/AMKA) will typically need to use private care and pay out of pocket.
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this women's health & safety research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Chania
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.